Mass Transit Launch Technologies from First Principles
Orbital Ring, Mass Driver, and Space Elevator Engineering, Vol II
Astronomy's Shocking Twist, Technical Book AST-T1
Overview
Volume II works through each proposed space launch technology from first principles. For each system (rockets, mass drivers, skyhooks, launch loops, space fountains, space elevators, and orbital rings), the volume develops the governing physics, estimates the materials and power requirements, and identifies the binding constraints.
The goal is not to advocate for a single design. It is to build the comparison tools a reader needs to judge any proposal fairly.
What's Inside
A chapter per major system, each with the same structure: the physics, the materials envelope, the power budget, the failure modes, and the realistic throughput.
Detailed table of contents and sample excerpts will be posted as the draft is finalized.